Contents-level indicator eor containers



ril 26 1927. AP G. M. BECHTEL CONTENTS LEVEL INDICATOR FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 4. 1926 VhW I NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE 1V1. BEGHTEL, OF MONTCLAIB, NEW JERSEY.

CONTENTS-LEVEL INDICATOR FOR CONTAINERS.

Application filed February The invention relates to improvements in devices for indicating the level of the contents of a. container, such as a tank or bin, and my object is to provide an exceptionally e ticient indicating device of this character which will operate to equal advantage, regardless of the nature of the contents. The device may find its most extensive use in connection with bins for holding coal in a more or less powdered state or in connection with seed and grain bins, but it will operate effectively whether the contents be dry, moist, or wet, and whether such contents be fluid, semi-fluid, gelatinous, viscous, granular, etc.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by he accom 'ianying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation partly broken away, illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail end elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 3 designates a container which may be of any desired type and may hold contents of any nature. Operatively associatcd with this container, is the improved levcl indicating means, and it may be stated that the gist of the present invention resides in unique automatic operating means for practically any sort of an indicator, the purpose of which is continuously to indicate the changing level of contents in a container, rather than in any details of the indicator construction shown on the drawing. In this connection, it may be added that an electrically operated indicator is shmvn for par-- {Nit-19 of illustration only.

The disclosure herein made will be now rather specifically described, with the understanding at the outset however. that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

The numeral 4 designates a wheel which is stationarily and rotatably mounted at the upper end of the container 3, with its axis disposed vertically, a bearing for said wheel being indicated by the numeral 5. The wheel l: is driven, a small electric motor 6 being preferably provided for this purpose, and while any desired connections could be provided between the motor and the wheel, the latter is preferably in the form of a beveled 4, 1926. Serial No. 86,018.

gear meshing with a beveled pinion 7 on the motor shaft.

Passing slidably through the center of the wheel at and having any desired driving connection with said wheel, is a shaft 8 which may well be of tubular form, so that it may surround a stationary vertical guide member 9, such as a rod or tightly drawn cable, said guide member being secured in any desired manner.

Fixedly secured to the lower portion of the shaft 8 to be driven by the latter, is a levelsceking device, shown in the form of a propeller 10 which may have any desired number of blades 11, said blades being so pitched as to cause ascent of the propeller through the contents of the container 3, as said propeller is driven by the shaft 8. Thus, regardless of the quantity of matter in the container 3, the propeller will always find its way to the upper surface, and by moving upwardly in this manner, it also raises the shaft 8, so that the latter may be utilized to operate indicating means. As the upper level of the container contents lowers, the propeller and shaft follow by gravity.

As hereinbefore stated, the indicating means may be of any desired nature. For illustrative purposes, said means have been shown as embodying a plurality of signal lights 12 whose circuits may be completed by a traveling contact-13 and individual, stationary contacts 14:. For operating the traveling contact, a screw 15 has been shown, said screw being connected by appropriate gearing us with a shaft 17, said shaft having a pulley or sprocket 18, the shaft being mounted in any desired manner. Trained over this mlley or sprocket, is a chain or other flexible clement 19, one end of which has a swivcled connection 20 with the upper end of the shaft 8, while the other end of said flexible element is provided with a weight. 21, so as to counter-balance the weight of the shaft 8 and propeller 10, to some extent.

As the propeller 10 and shaft 8 move upwardly or down'vvardly, according to the level of the contents within the container 3, the flexible element 19 is caused to effect rotation of the shaft 17, thus driving the screw 15 and moving the traveling contact 13 in one direction or the other, so as to effect illumination of the electric lights 12, and the operator will know that when any of ion these lights is illuminated, the contents within the container 3, are at the levelrepresented by said light.

It will be seen from the foregoing that simple, yet eflicient means have been provided for producing the desired results, and as excellent results may be obtained from the general construction shown, it may well be followed. However, as above-stated, numerous variations may be made. That is, the general construction shown may be varied and also the invention may be embodied in forms other than that herein disclosed. For instance, while the level-seeking device is shown in the form of a propeller, it might wellhave some other adequate form to produee the desired result.

I claim:

In an indicator for the contents of a contaiuer, a rotatably mounted wheel with its axis disposed vertically, means for rotating said wheehan upright tubular shaft slidable through the center of said Wheel and having a driving connection therewith, a guide member passing through said shaft and serving to guide the vertical movements of the shaft,

a level-seekingdevice carried by said shaft within the container and coi'nprising blades pitched to cause ascent through the container contents as the shaft is rotated, said device and shaft adapted to move downwardly by gravity, the pitch ofsaid blades causing it and the shaft tomove upwardly when the shaft is rotated, indicating means, and a connection between said shaft and means whereby the vertical movement of the shaft will operate the indicator.

111 testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixejd my signature.

GEORGE M. BECHTEL. 

